St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-05
Some of the Important Business
to Come Before 1t.

SOIue Vi tHc Important buS1neSS
to Come Before 1t.
Special Correspondence of the Globe
BUFFALO, June 2.-The International
Typographical convention, which meets
in this city Monday, promises to be the
largest ever held. The st. Paul, Min
neapOliS, Chicago, Omaha and other
delegates are already here. There is
move that will tend toward solving one
of the most vital questions that has been
the bone of contention in many of the
annual conventions of late years, which
has in the past been either postponed or
ignored by the adoption of cOmpro-
mise measure. l refer to the stereotype
plate matter on morning and evening
papers. But the fact should not be
overlooked that there are other matters
OF equal, If not of more, Importance to
the fraternity at large, that will come
up for consideration. Among these is
the apprentice system. 1t is generally
known among employing printers that
the competency of printers is rapidly de-
teriorating. SO noticeable is this in book
and job offices, that it may be stated
there are few really first class printers
out of employment in the large cities of
the country, and i'll many instances COM
mand wages above the union scales.
This rule, to a certain extent, will also
apply to newspaper offices, there being
very few competent men excepting
those thrown out through strikes or
possessed of such traits as make them
undeSirably employees out of employ
ment for any length of time. This, it
seems, ought to teach the lesson that
thoroughly skilled workmen are not
only the bulwark of the union, but
possessed of great advantage in the way
of securing employment over their more
unfortunate brethren. In this age of
steam and electricity, it is matter of
little moment for the prOprietorS to fill
the ''caSes." In dealing with this ques-
ton, the fact is often overlooked or un-
known that the total number of printers
in the United States in 1880
was 75,460, in 1886 the total mem
bership in good standing, accord
ing to the International proceedings,
was 1S,4S4; but it must be taken into
consideration that this latter figure in
cludeS Canada. This leaves 81, 1856 Jour
neymen in the United States alone, to
say nothing of boys, two-thirderS, ETC.,
from which to draw in cases of emer-
gency, and they are generally anxious
for an opportunity to go the larger
cities for the reason that the wages are
higher. With the newspaper and job
office managers it is not question of
filling places, but one of employing
competent labor. Anyone acquainted
with the practical workings of metro
politan newspapers is aware of the
manifold advantages possessed of a first
class force. Were it not for the supe-
rior training Of the city printers the
union itself could not keep out the
army of
CHEAPLY-PAID WORKMEN.
The average price paid for compost
ton outside the jurisdiction of the union
is in the great state of Pennsylvania,
averaging only IS cents per 1000 ems
and So per week, and this ratio will not
be exceeded in any portion of the
country.
One point which we must not over
look, and that is that there has been a
considerable falling off in the earnings
OF union printers since 1875. From
statistics compiled by Mr.. Waudby, of
the National Bureau of Labor, the fol-
lowing figures are taken:
Weekly wages. ...... S19 05 SIS 80
Morning papers. per 1000 46 50
Evening papers, per 1000. 43 81
Now what has been the cause of this4
decrease in wages? The difference in
the general prosperity of the country
will not justify it. 1t cannot be ae-
counted for on the score of falling off
IN union membership, for while in